☰
The Pittsburgh Steelers are -3.5 favorites over the Cincinnati Bengals in tonight's Monday Night Football game. The total is 45.
EaterVegas.com reports that White Castle will open its third Las Vegas location (with one downtown and the other at Casino Royale on the Strip) at the corner of Paradise Road and Harmon Avenue, in the former location of a Checkers drive-in across from the Hard Rock and Hofbrauhaus. Though Eater says the new location is "well-advanced in plans to debut a new easy-to-find location on the eastside," no date has been announced for the grand opening.
A local Las Vegas man went to see a movie at the Regal Aliante Stadium 16 & IMAX Theater on Saturday night and while he was at it, he put $20 into a quarter Wheel of Fortune machine at the Aliante casino. Before the $20 ran out at $1.25 per spin, he hit the jackpot for $935,176.
The Walk of Fame project embeds stars in the sidewalk on both sides of the Strip "to honor people who helped make Las Vegas famous."
Wayne Newton, also known as Mr. Las Vegas, was the first Las Vegan to receive a star on the Walk of Fame, in 2004 in front of the Frontier. Last year, 39 of the 82 existing stars were removed by organizers during the project to install security bollards along the Strip, Newton's among them; the stars reportedly didn't survive the removal. Newton's new star will be placed in front of Paris later this week. Others who have surviving stars on the Strip include Liberace, Siegfried and Roy, Sammy Davis, Jr., Bobby Darin, Rich Little, Frank Marino, Manny Pacquiao, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, and Engelbert Humperdinck.
The Dallas Cowboys are -2.5 favorites over the New Orleans Saints in tonight's Sunday Night Football game. The total is 48.
Raiders' head coach Jon Gruden and quarterback Derek Carr will be next-next door neighbors when their houses are completed within the next year. According to a report in the Review-Journal, it's a coincidence: Neither of the two biggest names on the football team knew they were both building homes in the same neighborhood. That neighborhood is the luxury Southern Highlands subdivision, close to the Raiders’ practice facility currently being constructed in Henderson and near the freeway up to Allegiant Stadium. The Grudens bought two lots totaling 1.7 acres for an estimated $1.3 million; Jon has a 10-year $100 million contract with the team. Derek Carr's contract is for $125 million and expires in 2022. The president of the team, Marc Badain, also owns a house in Southern Highlands, which he bought new for $2.13 million.
Marshmello, the DJ who wears a helmet mask -- a white bucket with what looks like black donkey heads for eyes and a sliver moon for a mouth -- and the Palms have parted ways only halfway through his contracted two-year residency. According to Jon Katsilometes, the Las Vegas Review-Journal's entertainment/gossip columnist, Marshmello's $60 million contract --earning him $600,000 per show -- "is viewed by industry vets as too high" for the KAOS club, "which needs 6,000-8,000 guests per day and night at peak business to hit its numbers." No word yet on a replacement DJ at KAOS.
An article at Forbes.com addresses the explosion of stand-up comedy in Las Vegas, keying in on the recent entry into the market by the Wynn with some of the hottest stand-up comics headlining Encore Theater: "... a deep dive and somewhat of a surprise given the Wynn's massive aqua theater production Le Rêve and the history of booking music residencies." The article calls the current climate "absolutely the gold rush of the comedy movement," given that comedy is a "release valve," one thing that everyone, regardless of all the issues on which we disagree, can come together and enjoy. And from the practical and economic angles, comedy is "an easier day. Less people to look after, less people to feed, less of a stagehand bill, a more efficient way to do business compared to some of the massive shows on the Strip." Our show listings include 15 comedy clubs and our one-off events schedule lists the headliners.
A bill sponsored by a Democrat and Republican has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives that would disallow hotels and other accommodations from advertising room rates that don't include resort fees. The bipartisan Hotel Advertising Transparency Act of 2019 doesn't eliminate or prohibit resort fees, but it does mandate full disclosure on all advertising and pricing. If passed, the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general would enforce the law.
"By eliminating the last of its parking fees that it started imposing in 2017, is Wynn Resorts simply trying to gain a competitive advantage over its rivals, matching the policies of the surrounding casinos that have never imposed fees, or is it actually worried about a slowdown coming on the Las Vegas Strip?" asks the Motley Fool in an article posted last night. Then it answers its own question, reporting that between 2012 and 2017, when the parking fees went into full effect, 26% of all Vegas visitors drove in from southern California. But in 2018, only 19% did: "That suggests parking fees were a big deterrent." In addition, "A 2018 community survey conducted by the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance found 37% of Vegas workers avoid parking at casinos that charge fees and almost 30% avoid using any services at casinos that don't offer free parking." Finally, the post makes the point that the gaming win at Strip resorts fell 1% year-over-year for the fiscal year that ended in June, while all of Clark County and the entire state registered a gain of nearly 1% during the same period. We've said it before and we'll say it again: The big Strip casino companies continue to shoot themselves in the foot.
VegasEater.com reports that the Flamingo has closed its steakhouse, Center Cut, along with Café To Go and the Laurel Lounge. After a $5.5 million renovation, a new steakhouse, Steaks & Alibis, will open early next year in that total space. Center Cut debuted in 2012; Steaks & Alibis will "pay homage to the resort's iconic history of more than 70 years."
Sixty-two-year-old Texan Tilman Fertitta, who owns the Golden Nuggets in Las Vegas and Laughlin, along with the Houston Rockets and Landry's chain of restaurants and, incidentally, is in the top 150 of the Forbest 400 wealthiest Americans, will be on hand at the downtown Golden Nugget tomorrow for a meet and greet and book signing for his new book, Shut Up and Listen! -- Hard Business Truths that Will Help You Succeed. The signing is 3-4 p.m. and a Q&A session starts at 7:15 p.m.
You never know how the final cut will turn out, but Anthony Curtis was interviewed by ABC's news magazine "20/20" last week for a segment on Siegfried and Roy. His interview lasted about an hour, so we would expect up to a minute of airtime for our fearless leader when the program's two-hour premiere for season 42 airs tonight at 9 p.m. S&R themselves will appear for their first prime-time interview since the tiger attack in 2003; Criss Angel, Lance Burton, Penn & Teller, and the stagehand who helped save Roy's life will also be interviewed.
The Magic Mike Live male strip show will close at the Hard Rock on November 24 and relocate to the Sahara, opening sometime in spring 2020. Magic Mike just celebrated its 1,000th show, but the Hard Rock will close a couple months after the show and won't reopen till late in 2020. The show's venue at the Sahara hasn't been announced, but the big new entertainment space currently being built next to the pool is an obvious location.
The Green Bay Packers are -3.5 favorites over the Philadelphia Eagles in tonight's Thursday Night Football game. The total is 46.5. Note: This line was posted after the game started.
The Nevada Taxicab Authority has approved a flat-fare structure for cab rides from the airport to the Strip. Fixed rates will be charged by zone: From Sunset Rd. to Tropicana Ave. (Zone 1) will run $19; Tropicana to Flamingo (Zone 2) $23; and Flamingo to the Stratosphere (Zone 3) $27. The change, which will go into effect on January 1, 2020, for a six-month pilot program, should eliminate long-hauling and fare uncertainties to and from the airport.
The Westgate sports book has the Vegas Golden Knights as the favorite to win the NHL Western Divisions this season at 3-1. The team is second only to the Tampa Bay Lightning to win the Stanley Cup at 7-1. The Knights are also listed with the second highest over/under on regular-season point totals at 102.5, tied for second with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Westgate is booking a little less action on the VGK this year than last; for this season, they're second in futures transactions and money wagered on the Stanley Cup, while last year they were first. Our blog, Knights on Ice, is already going strong, with four of the first five preseason games covered. The regular season opens on Wednesday October 2 against the division-rival San Jose Sharks at T-Mobile. The second game is also against the Sharks in San Jose on Friday.
Bellagio's ultra-lounge Hyde, which closed in July, will be replaced by an old-school supper club-style restaurant called the Mayfair, which will open over New Year's Eve weekend. The Hollywood Reporter reports that the Mayfair will be based on the dinner-and-a-show concept that "started in Europe, was perfected in New York in the 1930s to 1950s, and then, of course, was taken over by Las Vegas in the 1960s. Then it faded away." Contemporary American cuisine will be the focus of the early evening, with the live music in the background, but as the night progresses, the entertainment will evolve into the focal point. "The entertainment will follow the path of the night -- at 7 p.m. you might have the classics like Marvin Gaye or Frank Sinatra, then at 10:30 p.m. something completely different — and a bit more raucous." Though the whole experience will "blur the line between a restaurant and a club," especially later in the evening, guests will make dinner reservations the same as at any other restaurant. Drinkers will be able to enjoy the music at the bar, in the lounge, or on the patio.
It's official: The new name of the old Windows Showroom at Bally's is The Magic Attic, touted as "an intimate entertainment experience and an ideal space for magical productions and illusionists." It is intimate, with a seating capacity of only around 300, and the all-magic lineup currently consists of Xavier Mortimer’s Magical Dream, Paranormal Mind Reading Magic, and Potted Potter. The showroom is undergoing renovations that are scheduled for completion sometime next summer.
The Las Vegas Aces Women's National Basketball Association team lost Game Four of the best-of-five semi-final playoffs last night to the league-dominating Washington Mystics 94-90, ending their season. The Aces won Game Three, but went down 3-1 in the series. The Mystics, who lost the championship series in both 2017 and 2018 0-3, continue on to the finals for an all East Coast winner-take-all series against the Connecticut Sun. The good news is that the female dolphin born five weeks ago at Siegfried and Roy's Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat at the Mirage has been named, Lady Ace, to honor the women's hometown basketball team. (Both the Mirage and the team are owned by MGM Resorts International.)
Starting today, ride-share passengers departing from Terminal 1 no longer have to take the stairs or elevator up to Level 2M after crossing the bridge to the parking garage. Instead, they can meet their drivers on Level 2. Just take a right at the end of the pedestrian bridge and wait for your ride at the signs. Pickup at Terminal 3 remains at valet, Level 1, of the parking garage, also right across the pedestrian bridge.
This Saturday, Sept. 28, is National Public Lands Day. Admission fees to Red Rock Canyon ($15 per car, $10 motorcycles, $5 for bicyclists and hikers), Lake Mead Recreation Area ($25 per car, $20 motorcycles, $15 on foot, bicycle, or horseback), and Death Valley National Park ($20 per car, $10 on foot, bicycle, or horseback) are waived all day. Visitation to Red Rock is expected to be especially heavy between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., so you might have to wait at the gate awhile between those hours.
After a four-month renovation, the old Rampart Buffet has been replaced by the new Market Place Buffet at the JW Marriott/Rampart in northwest Las Vegas. With action cooking stations and outdoor-patio dining, the Market Place features a Carvery with steaks cooked to order and rotisserie meats, Italian and Mediterranean, Asian, made-to-order pasta and pizza, and salad and dessert bars. Specialty nights include Hawaiian (Wed.), crab (Fri.), and lobster (Sat.), along with a weekend champagne brunch. No breakfast, but lunch Mon.-Fri. is $14.99 or $8.99 with a Rewards card, dinner is $19.99/$14.99 Sun.-Thurs., brunch is $20.99/$14.99, and specialty nights $30.99/$27.99. All-you-can-drink Coors Light and Blue Moon beer on tap and Dark Horse Cab and Chardonnay costs $7.99 and there are deeper discounts for seniors 50+. Hours are lunch 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays, dinner 4 to 9 p.m. daily, and brunch 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekends.
What might be the plans for the Rio, once it changes hands from Caesars Entertainment to IC 3700 Flamingo Road Venture LLC (the "IC" stands for Imperial Companies, a New York-based real estate group) sometime before the end of the year? According to an article by Howard Stutz of CDC Gaming Reports, at least one analyst speculates that it might not be a hotel-casino for long. Caesars will lease back and operate the Rio for two years and IC has an option to pay for a third year of the arrangement, though the analyst said that he doubts that option will be exercised. "We believe [the deal] was structured to allow more time for the buyer to pursue strategic redevelopment options” and two years should be enough to "reimage" the big property a mile west of the Strip. Another analyst told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that he doesn't "expect a full tear-down, but could see meaningful capital expenditures ... with a focus on non-gaming amenities, a potential residential component, and perhaps partnerships with hotel and hospitality brands.” Will the aging Rio go through a Palms-like transformation? Will the casino (and buffet) be closed and condos opened? Will the whole joint be torn down and replaced (with an MLB stadium)? Will Imperial Companies try to flip the lease or the whole property? Stay tuned.
The Chicago Bears are -5.5 favorites over the Washington Redskins in tonight's Monday Night Football game. The total is 41.
Aurelio’s, Brando’s, Rosati’s (S. Rainbow), Shuck’s (N. Durango), Windy City, Bar Code, and Joe’s Bar are Bears bars. There are no bars currently following the Redskins. Get details from our complete list of Team Bars.
Las Vegas welcomes fall today with temperatures in the upper 80s; tomorrow and Wednesday's highs will hit the mid-90s, but then drop back to the more normal mid- to upper 80s. As for the summer, it was Sizzling City's fourth-hottest and fourth-driest in 82 years (since record-keeping began in 1937). The valley received less than half an inch of rain, 5% of the normal amount. The National Weather Service reports that 73 out of 94 days of summer hit temperatures at or above 100, with 10 days higher than 110. The high temperature for the year was 113 on August 5.
Bloomberg this morning reported that MGM Resorts "is in talks" to sell Circus Circus to Phil Ruffin. It wouldn't be the first time MRI has sold a hotel-casino to the real estate mogul: Ruffin bought Treasure Island from MGM in 2009 for $750 million. No further details were reported. Scott Roeben of VitalVegas.com broke the story last week, blogging that the sale was "a done deal" and includes the Las Vegas Festival Grounds next door, a total of 102 acres, with a Strip frontage of more than a quarter-mile.
Caesars Entertainment has signed an agreement to sell the Rio to a five-year-old New York-based real estate investment, development, and management group called Imperial Companies for $516.3 million. Caesars will lease back the Rio and operate the property at $3.75 million a month for a minimum of two years, with an option for a third and beyond. The Rio will be part of Total Rewards for the duration of the lease term; the World Series of Poker is not part of the deal and will remain at the Rio at least through the 2020 tournament. Both parties are hoping to close the sale by the end of the year, well before the Caesars-Eldorado merger is finalized, pending shareholder and Nevada regulatory approval.
The Los Angeles Rams are -4.5 favorites over the Cleveland Browns in tonight's Sunday Night Football game. The total is 48.
Last week’s 19-point line was trumped this week with two games closing with spreads of more than 20. The New England Patriots are -21 favorites over the New York Jets and the Dallas Cowboys are -22 over the Miami Dolphins. In five previous NFL games with pointspreads above 20, the dog has covered every time.
According to a story in this morning's Las Vegas Sun, the median annual water usage for a Las Vegas household in 2018 was just over 100,000 gallons for the year. "Total and per-capita water use has declined over the last decade, even though the population has increased by 14%," the Sun reports. However, the top 100 water users in the Las Vegas Valley Water District used 284 million gallons, an average of 2.84 million per household in 2018. The largest users were identified as the Prince of Brunei (12.4 million), eBay founder Pierre Omidyar (11.5 million), Sheldon Adelson (11 million), Station Casinos' Lorenzo Fertitta (9.4 million), and Walmart heir Nancy Walton Laurie (6 million).
The Life Is Beautiful Festival that took over downtown Las Vegas this weekend has by all accounts been a rousing success, with nearly 200,000 participating. The only off note occurred when Lil Wayne failed to show up for his performance, scheduled to climax the festivities last night. Thousands of fans waited for the rapper as intro promos -- "Next up, Lil Wayne!" -- blared through the sound system; 20 minutes into his scheduled show time, it was announced that he wouldn't perform: "Sorry for the inconvenience." Meanwhile, down the Strip, the iHeart Radio Music Festival at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds attracted 22,000 people, less than originally predicted, but double last year's turnout. Up in Rachel, only a fraction of the possible hordes of Storm Area 51 enthusiasts actually showed up for the makeshift Alienstock festival. Still, 3,000 was a respectable number for the respectful crowd that was parked, entertained, fed, and watered throughout the weekend. However, the Area 51 Basecamp Festival 45 miles away in Hiko was a complete dud; only a few dozen people arrived to see Grammy Award-winner Paul Oakenfeld perform on Friday night; the event was cancelled for Saturday. Finally, it was just announced that after only 48 hours of being on sale, all tickets, every single one, for the 2020 version of Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) have been sold out.
With the autumn equinox occurring late tomorrow night, the Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Garden has unveiled its 2019 fall display. "Indian Summer" features 20,000 preserved roses in the 14,000-square-foot space, decorating floral arches, royal elephants, a mandap (a structure used for Indian wedding ceremonies), and a kaleera (an umbrella-shaped ornament worn on the bride's arms). The bride herself dances gracefully on high, overlooking Aladdin's lamp, foxes and a monkey, a cart full of gourds, and the venerable Man in the Tree. "Indian Summer" is free and open 24/7, and runs until November 30.
Roughly 100 people gathered at the gate to Area 51 closest to Rachel in the wee hours of this morning, where law enforcement kept things civil and had to arrest only one person for, well, let's just say inappropriate behavior. Two other people were detained for the same, but weren't arrested. Earlier, one person was thrown out of the Little A'Le'in after a "disturbance," which prompted a swarm of police. and Nevada Highway Patrol made "a couple" of arrests along the road. So far, those are all the incidents at Alienstock that have been reported. The crowd is estimated at between 2,000 and 3,000 this morning, but is expected to double for the main events today and tomorrow. The other festival, Storm Area 51 Basecamp 45 miles away in Hiko, has been cancelled for lack of attendance; only a couple hundred showed up.
Tim Ho Wan, the long-awaited dim-sum restaurant from Hong Kong, will open on September 29 at the Palms. The original restaurant debuted in 2009 and earned a Michelin star almost immediately as "the world’s most approachable and affordable dim sum.” The Palms location will be Tim Ho Wan's 46th in nine countries and will have a few Las Vegas-only selections; the Las Vegas Review-Journal cites the fresh lobster-meat rice roll, beef wagyu bundle, wagyu beef rice roll, and shrimp toast with truffle and foie gras, none of which costs more than $11. Three pork buns ("a Chinese-style croissant") are three for $6. The menu has only 30 items, all made fresh to order from the open kitchen. Tim Ho Wan will also be a late-night play, closing as late as 4 a.m. depending on demand.
Rail Explorers, a seasonal attraction in Boulder City, will launch year-round tours starting October 11. The experience involves guided excursions in which participants power two- or four-seat rail bikes that cruise along tracks used by 1930s' construction crews building Hoover Dam. The three ride choices include a four-mile downhill cruise and a historic train ride back; a sunset tour; and an evening lantern-lit ride. Singles are $45, tandems $85, and quads $150. For more info and to book tours, go to railexplorers.net.
According to the moving (from place to place) website move.org, Las Vegas is the fifth best city in the country for live music. The rankings were based on the number of concert venues per 100,000 population. Austin (with 4.64 venues per 100k people) placed first, followed by San Diego (43.3), San Jose (40), and New Orleans (3.91). Las Vegas has 3.83 venues per 100,000, though 15 years ago, it wouldn't have been in the top 100. For the whole story on how Sin City vaulted to near the head of the live-music list, read our book Rock Vegas -- Live Music Explodes in the Neon Desert.
Chick-Fil-A is coming to the Golden Nugget downtown. The fast-foodery is expected to open in the Carson Tower sometime this winter. Another Chick-Fil-A outlet will open slightly earlier at Planet Hollywood. All Chick-Fil-A locations are closed on Sundays. Also opening at the GN is Saltgrass Steak House, a chain owned by GN owner Landry's with 80 locations around the country.
Allegiant Stadium will offer Coca-Cola products exclusively after signing a founding partnership deal with Coca-Cola bottling company Reyes Holdings. The family-owned Reyes is one of the largest privately held companies in the world with annual sales in excess of $27 billion; it has numerous distribution facilities in Nevada and California.
The World Naked Bike Ride returns to Las Vegas on September 28. This event has been held around the world annually since 2004 and is meant to promote the wider use of bicycles, reduction in traffic, alternatives to fossil fuels, and positive body image and to expose (so to speak) the vulnerability faced by cyclists and pedestrians from the car culture -- and this being Las Vegas, the press release also cites "riding naked for health, joy, and being silly." For this year's 16th version, the event has reached 75 cities in 24 countries and will be Vegas' fourth annual ride. Riders will meet for a pre-ride party at 6 p.m. at the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Washington Avenue; the ride will begin at 7 p.m., is free, and is open to everyone. Displaying private parts in public is illegal in Nevada, so body paint, pasties, masks, and other creative cover-ups are de rigueur.
A few days ago, we wrote in Vegas News that the widest spread in the past 52 years (since the Super Bowl began in 1967) is 23 points, when the San Francisco 49ers were favored over the Atlanta Falcons by 23 during the strike year of 1987 (the Falcons covered). Since then, we've seen different information. The highest ever was in 2013, when the Denver Broncos were 27.5-point faves over the Jacksonville Jaguars at some books. The next highest pointspread was in a 1967 game between the Oakland Raiders and Miami Dolphins, in which the Raiders were -26.5.
The Tennessee Titans are -1.5 favorites over the Jacksonville Jaguars in tonight's Thursday Night Football game. The total is 38.
The Hard Rock has announced a special memorabilia exhibition to celebrate the hotel-casino’s 25-year history in Las Vegas from (1995- 2020). The display will open to the public on Friday September 27 to kick off the property’s “Farewell Tour” before it begins its transformation to Virgin Hotels Las Vegas in February 2020. The exhibition will feature costumes, musical instruments, props, and artwork that haven't been seen in public for decades from the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Queen, Aerosmith, Guns N’ Roses, Elton John, Elvis, Lady Gaga, even the Beatles. New items will be added to the collection on a regular basis, giving attendees something new to see during the exhibition’s expected four-month engagement through January 2020. The exhibit will be located near Pink Taco, off the Paradise parking garage and will be open Thursday–Monday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. from Sept. 27 to Jan. 31. Admission is free and all ages are welcome.
In this tale of two Massachusetts casinos, one is so far doing pretty well, while the other is struggling. MGM Springfield, which just completed its first year, brought in less than 66.6% of the gross gaming revenue MGM had projected for the period. Gross revenue was $273.8 million from its opening on Aug. 24, 2018, through the end of August 2019, against the $418 million predicted (nearly $35 million per month, which turned into $22 million on average, with a high of $25.7 million in March and reaching only $19.7 million in January). Meanwhile, on the coast, Encore Boston Harbor earned $52.4 million in August, its second full month in operation. Roughly $32.2 million came from table games, while $20 million came from slots. Overall, August's revenue was nearly $4 million higher than in July (the property opened on June 23), but slot revenue fell by nearly $1 million.
Upwards of 200,000 people will congregate downtown starting on Friday for the three-day Life Is Beautiful Festival. The hordes will enjoy traffic-free streets; headliner concerts and stand-up comedy; a vast food and beverage lineup of more than 80 chefs and restaurants; immersive, multi-disciplinary, global art extravaganza with murals, installations, and demonstrations; lectures and story-telling; pool parties; custom posters; and more. Chance the Rapper, Black Keys, Post Malone, Billie Eilish, and Vampire Weekend are scheduled to perform on the main stages; 15 comedy acts will include Fred Armisen, Josh Gondelman, Nikki Glaser, Chris Redd, Pod Save America, and Jonathan Van Ness. Tickets start at $145 per day and run as high as $2,750 for the three-day "All In" pass. If you're not planning on attending, we'd give downtown a very wide berth from Friday at 2 p.m. when the gates open till Monday morning at 1 p.m. when they close till next year.
When the Virgin Hotel-Casino reopens after its transformation from the Hard Rock sometime in late 2020, Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment will operate the casino for Miami-based Virgin Hotels, owner of the Hard Rock. Mohegan will be the first tribal gaming company to manage a casino in Las Vegas. The Mohegan connection had been known for a while when the official announcement came yesterday; it included that Mohegan will oversee the redesign of the 60,000 foot casino space, along with other patron venues around the property. Virgin Hotels will operate the 1,500 guest rooms, which will be part of Hilton Hotel’s Curio Collection reservations and rewards systems. Mohegan will have to be approved by Nevada gaming authorities.
According to a story by Howard Stutz of CDC Gaming Reports, "The financial ties between MGM Resorts International and its late founder Kirk Kerkorian have ended." Kerkorian once held a majority share in the stock of the "new" MGM (he also built the old MGM, which became Bally's), but his stake kept shrinking over the years: to 37% in 2009, then to 27% when he resigned from the board of directors in 2011, and to 16.2% when he died in 2015. In his will, according to Stutz, Kerkorian instructed his two daughters to divest of the rest of his shares "in an orderly fashion"; they've apparently sold off the final few points that remained with Kerkorian's estate.
After the 43-0 drubbing suffered by the Miami Dolphins in last Sunday's game against the New England Patriots, the pointspread in the Dolphins' next game, next Sunday versus the Cowboys in Dallas, is approaching record territory. The line opened at 16.5, but quickly moved to 21 -- three full touchdowns plus the extra points. The widest spread in the past 52 years (since the Super Bowl began in 1967) is 23 points, when the San Francisco 49ers were favored over the Atlanta Falcons by 23 during the strike year of 1987 (the Falcons covered). The New England sports books took a beating on the Patriots game, which booked a lot of bets on the home team at up to -19.
The Cleveland Browns are -6.5 favorites over the New York Jets in tonight's Monday Night Football game. The total is 45.
Boulevard Bar & Grille, Giuseppes Bar & Grille, Kopper Keg West, and Tap House are Browns bars. There are no bars currently following the Jets. Get details from our complete list of Team Bars.
Wynn Las Vegas will stop charging all guests for valet parking starting Monday September 30. This move eliminates paid parking at the Wynn and Encore entirely, as the Wynn has bucked the paid-parking trend since May 1, when it stopped charging for self-parking. Any change in the paid-parking policies of MGM Resorts or Caesars Entertainment, based on this move by the Wynn, is not expected -- by us!
Here’s a shocker. The latest announcement of a new project on the site of the Moulin Rouge has evaporated like those before it. The prospective developer of a $1.6 billion mixed-use complex on the site failed to post a required $9.5 million deposit to secure the land and there doesn't appear to be a contingency plan. Next!
In a wild finish, the Las Vegas Aces won its single-game quarter-finals appearance in the WNBA playoffs yesterday against the Chicago Sky at Thomas and Mack. Dearica Hamby, an Aces forward, threw up a half-court prayer with five seconds left and hit it to take the lead 93-92. The Aces move to the best-of-five semi-finals against the league-leading Washington Mystics. And in their first pre-season game against the Arizona Coyotes, the Vegas Golden Knights had a hat trick (Max Pacioretty) to win by a score of 6-2. It was another standing-room-only crowd at T-Mobile, highly unusual for a pre-season game. Joe Pane's blog, Knights on Ice, resumes for the season with coverage of the game and more.
Christina Aguilera will extend her The Xperience residency at Planet Hollywood for 10 more nights this year and next: Dec. 27, 28, 30, and 31; Feb. 26, 28, and 29; and March 4, 5, and 6. Tickets start at $40 and go on sale to the public this Friday, Sept. 20.
The Philadelphia Eagles are -1 favorites over the Atlanta Falcons in tonight's Sunday Night Football game. The total is 53.5.
The New England Patriots are as high as -19 favorites over the Miami Dolphins today. It’s being reported as the third highest spread for a road team, following the Pats as 21-point favorites over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1976 and the San Francisco 49ers as 23-point faves over The Atlanta Falcons in 1987. The dogs covered in both of those games.
You can, but it'll cost you $3 million or more. A 4,000-square-foot 46th-floor fully furnished corner penthouse at the Waldorf Astoria recently fetched the highest high-rise price of the year: $5.75 million. (The same property sold for $3.87 million in 2015.) The Waldorf Astoria also boasted the third- and fourth-highest-priced high-rise condos that have sold so far in 2019 at $3.99 million and $3.6 million. The Waldorf Astoria (formerly the Mandarin Oriental) at City Center is 47 stories tall and has 225 residences and 392 hotel rooms.
The USA Today Wine & Food Experience, which made its Las Vegas debut last year, will return to the Las Vegas Festival Grounds just north of Circus Circus on Saturday October 26 from 1 to 4 p.m. Several Strip restaurant chefs, including Susan Feniger from Border Grill, will be on hand, as well as from locals restaurants all over the valley; food from two dozen restaurants will be represented. Two master sommeliers will provide wine samples and a seminar. The Grand Tasting general-admission tickets are $65 in advance at $85 at the gate.
Gordon Ramsay Steak, the uber-celebrity-chef's original Las Vegas restaurant that opened in 2012 at Paris, has reopened after a five-day closure for remodeling and menu tweaking. A Chunnel-themed entrance (Ramsay is British), new decor, chef's table, and much more seafood on the menu are among the changes. Ramsay has four other Vegas restaurants, all at Caesars' properties: GR Pub & Grill and Hell's Kitchen at Caesars Palace, GR Fish & Chips at the LINQ, and GR Burger at Planet Hollywood.
Sports books in Iowa accepted more than $8.5 million through the first 17 days of legal sports betting, according to the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission's first monthly sports betting report. Most of the action was on local college sports and the books won $2.2 million of the handle (a healthy 26% hold), though futures bets aren't figured in. The state collected just under $150,000 in taxes. In addition, with the slot hold up 5% and table games up 10% during August, the spillover from the sports books to Iowa's casinos is so far significant, especially considering that the books opened halfway in on August 15.
Andrea's, the Asian restaurant at Encore named for Steve Wynn's wife, Andrea Hissom Wynn, has closed. The room will be remodeled to reopen in early 2020 as a Mexican restaurant. And the last show of "Vegas Gone Country," the small Legends in Concert-like show at the Miracle Mile Shop's V Theater, was performed on Thursday night.
Scott "Doubt Our Sources at Your Own Peril!" Roeben of VitalVegas.com reported late yesterday that MGM Resorts International has sold Circus Circus, plus the Las Vegas Festival Grounds next door -- an extraordinary 102 acres with a Strip frontage of more than a quarter-mile. Scott writes, "We have it on good authority the sale of Circus Circus casino is a done deal. It’s unknown when an official announcement of the sale will be made." As for the buyer, he adds, "While we can’t share the name of the buyer at this time, it’s a known player in Las Vegas (and not an outside entity like Oyo, which purchased Hooters, or a private-equity firm)." Could it be Boyd? Phil Ruffin (of Treasure Island)? Tilman Fertitta (of Golden Nugget)? Or (dare we say) Steve Wynn?
The international superstar rapper Drake, in conjunction with his $10 million residency at XS Nightclub at the Wynn, is opening a pop-up shop there that will sell items from his OVO (October's Very Own) brand. OVO's products are affordable streetwear, such as Owl-branded T-shirts, hoodies, and hats, and trinkets like keychains, beach towels, ash trays, water bottles, and phone covers. The shop, in Wynn Plaza, opens tomorrow; hours are Sun.-Thurs. 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m. to midnight through January 12.
Business reporter Bailey Schulz interviewed the 25-year-old CEO and founder of OYO Hotels and Homes, Ritesh Agarwal, who told her that OYO is in the midst of spending $20 million on upgrading Hooters and will complete the transition by the end of the year. The Hooters restaurant will be retained (it's one of the highest-grossing locations in the chain), as will the country's largest Steak ’n Shake; improvements are being made to the casino, the poolside bar, and the 24-hour gym. Perhaps the best news of all is that parking will remain free.
Mike Friedman, one of the two intrepid reporters at our big blog The Travel Game, posted a piece yesterday that includes five ways to avoid paying resort fees on a stay in Vegas. One of the ways is earning free rooms at the Wynn by accumulating "gems" on the Wynn Slots App (spoiler alert: Set to autospin!). However, a later Travel Game post yesterday describes the changes in the slot app and not, to be sure, for the better. Keep up with Vegas travel deals -- and changes to them -- at The Travel Game, only on LasVegasAdvisor.com.
The Carolina Panthers are -6.5 favorites over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in tonight's Thursday Night Football game. The total is 48.
The National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) has released fiscal year 2018 gross gaming revenue numbers, which totaled $33.7 billion, a 4.1% increase over fiscal year 2017 and the highest gross revenues in Indian gambling history. Revenues are based on 501 independently audited financial statements, comprising 241 federally recognized tribes across 29 states and calculated as the amount wagered minus winnings returned to players.
Vegas Weddings, one of the downtown wedding chapels at 555 S. 3rd St. has combined the three trendiest icons of a Las Vegas wedding. For $699 and up, the chapel will provide a pink Cadillac convertible, an Elvis impersonator as the "marryin' Sam," and a drive-thru wedding experience, along with the usual photos/video, flowers, and room for guests.
The black glass that will wrap parts of Allegiant Stadium are being installed and are visible from the freeway. The glass is reflective in daylight, but mostly transparent at night, so when the stadium's interior lights are illuminated, those outside can get a look in. Workers are also getting ready to raise the transparent-plastic roof; that monumental task is scheduled to be completed early next year. As for the Las Vegas Convention Center expansion, the LVCVA reports that it's halfway completed: The new 600,000-square-foot exhibit hall is clearly visible from the north Strip and the top beam was hoisted into place last week. The project is on schedule to be completed in time for CES in January 2021. And the Wynn's 430,000-square-foot convention center is reportedly a month ahead of schedule and will open in February; it will be electrified by a 160-acre solar farm (in Fallon, NV, that sends energy down the grid) and rooftop solar panels.
The Walgreens between the Showcase Mall and defunct Hawaiian Marketplace has gone up for sale again, but this time for $10 million more than it sold for only three months ago. Walgreens purchased the property its store occupies from its previous landlord, Spectrum Group Management, in June for $30 million and is now asking $40 million for the lot. Spectrum also sold a 9.5-acre parcel that includes the Hawaiian Marketplace in July for $172 million.
The South Point 400 NASCAR Cup Series race is in town this weekend and the Las Vegas Strip between Planet Hollywood and the Wynn will be part of the festivities tomorrow evening. All 16 Monster Energy race cars will parade up the Strip starting at 7 p.m., then perform the burnout victory ritual between Spring Mountain Rd. and the Wynn. Burnout is achieved by means of burning tire rubber while skillfully letting out the clutch, which creates a lot of smoke, stench, and din. NBCSN will broadcast Burnout Blvd. Driven live at 7 p.m. Pacific Time.
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority is happy that Las Vegas visitation is up a little more than a half-percent so far in 2019 over 2018, but really happy that room rates are up 3.9% year over year and a full 5% over 2017. The average room rate in 2019 is $134, compared to $128.85 last year and $127.35 in 2017. Occupancy rates, as might be expected from the strong room rates, are up a little too: 89.6% so far in 2019, 1.4% higher than last year and only 0.08% less than the record of 90.4% set in 2007.
Want to catch a Blackjack Hall of Famer doing what he does on the side? Richard Munchkin is a principal player in the Super Summer Theater production of “Noises Off,” playing this month at Spring Mountain State Park. This is a cool place to spend an evening and take in a play and there are seven dates remaining Sept. 11-21, with tickets priced at just $15. Richard is the author of our book Gambling Wizards: Conversations with the World's Greatest Gamblers and co-host, with Bob Dancer, of the “Gambling with an Edge” podcast.
Caesars Entertainment sports books in Las Vegas are dealing -105 (bet $105 to win $100 as opposed to the standard $110/$100) on NFL sides on Tuesdays beginning today. The promo runs from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and is available at the window or on the app.
In its first full year of legal sports betting, West Virginia's tax revenues have barely hit 20% of the tax take estimated when the betting windows opened in late August 2018. Projections were for at least $5 million in taxes, but only about $1 million has been collected. The estimate was based on all five WV casinos having fully operating sports books, but two were shut down a few months after launch due to a legal dispute. In addition, the operating sports books have been slow to develop mobile platforms, so bettors have to drive to one of the three locations to place bets in person. Gamblers placed approximately $140 million in total sports bets for a narrow $1.1 million post-tax profit; the Hollywood Casino in Charles Town accounted for $755,000 of the taxes paid to the state, about 70% of the total.
To no one's real surprise, the 20-year-old creator of the Storm Area 51 Facebook meme and putative organizer of the Alienstock "festival" in Rachel, Nevada, has pulled out of the event. The blame game has already started and the owner of the Little A'Le'In in Rachel told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that a lawsuit will be forthcoming sometime after the festivities, which, she says, are still scheduled -- with performances by 20 bands and two comedians, plus vendors, portable toilets, security, and medical facilities.
David Lee Roth, the flamboyant front man for Van Halen, will do his acrobatic song-and-dance act at the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay for nine shows early next year. The dates are: Jan. 8, 10, and 11; and March 18, 20, 21, 25, 27, and 28. David Lee Roth: Rocks Vegas will reportedly include "26 instantly recognizable songs," several from Van Halen's discography. Ticket prices haven't been announced, but go on sale Saturday. And Barry Manilow's residency at the Westgate will continue into 2020 for 11 shows (so far). Manilow Las Vegas: The Hits Come Home will play Feb. 13, 15, 20, 21, and 22; and March 5, 6, 7, 26, 27, and 28. Tickets start at $49 and go on sale on Sept. 16.
In tonight's second Monday Night Football game, the Denver Broncos are -3 favorites over the Oakland Raiders. The total is 43.
Black Mountain Grill, Four Mile Bar, and Jake’s Bar are Broncos bars. Legends, Lucy’s, Crown & Anchor Tropicana, Chanclas Cantina, Jackpot, and Good Timez are Raiders bars. Get details from our complete list of Team Bars.
In the first of tonight's Monday Night Football double-header, the New Orleans Saints are -6.5 favorites over the Houston Texans. The total is 52.
The two Lola’s Kitchens are Saints bars. There are no bars currently following the Texans. Get details from our complete list of Team Bars.
The "official" watch party for tonight's first Monday Night Football game, between the Oakland (soon-to-be Las Vegas) Raiders and AFC Western Division rival Denver Broncos, will be held at a number of locations around the LINQ. Otherwise, if last year's LVA survey of MNF parties is any indication, the one in South Point's showroom is the best place to be (also on Thursdays and Sundays). Casinos with worthwhile parties last year also included Sam's Town, Gold Coast, Ellis Island, Rampart, and Main Street Station (at the Triple 7 Brewpub). We'll run around tonight to see what's new, the same, or old for this football season. And for extensive coverage of the parties at all Las Vegas' strip clubs, go to the MNF party page at our sister site, ToplessVegasOnline. (NOTE: ToplessVegasOnline is fully illustrated throughout and contains adult language and imagery. NSFW!)
The Las Vegas Aviators minor-league baseball team ended their season yesterday with a 7-3 loss to the Sacramento River Rats. The Aviators, farm team for the Oakland Athletics, went up 2-1 in the best-of-five playoff semi-finals with wins of 9-3 and 11-4 and scored 26 runs in the first three games, only to lose the last two games at home in the first year of the $150 million Las Vegas Ballpark.
The New England Patriots are -5.5 favorites over the Pittsburgh Steelers in tonight's Sunday Night Football game. The total is 49.
Rafael Nadal is a -500 favorite over Daniil Medvedev in today's U.S. Open tennis men's final. Nadal is seeking a 19th championship in his 27th Grand Slam final. This is the first Grand Slam final for Medvedev.
Sixth+mill ristorante, pizzeria, and bar has opened in the Grand Canal Shoppes overlooking St. Mark's Square. Owned and operated by the proprietors of the newish Factory Kitchen next door at the Venetian (one of the Essential 52 restaurants that will be reviewed in the new edition of our Eating Las Vegas), Sixth+mill serves small plates ($8-$13), fritters ($9-$18), salads ($12-$16), red and white pizzas and pastas ($16-$24), and beef, chicken, and seafood ($18-$37) -- all with a southern Italian flare. Sixth+mill is open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sun.-Thurs., till midnight Fri. and Saturday.
California's first Hard Rock hotel-casino has announced that it's on track to hold its soft opening on October 30. The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Sacramento at Fire Mountain is located roughly 30 miles due north of the capital city in Wheatland, adjacent to the 18,500-seat Toyota Amphitheater, used primarily for rock concerts. Def Leppard will headline the grand opening celebration on November 2. The Hard Rock, which was announced a little more than a year, will have a 170-room hotel, 1,800 slots and a couple dozen table games, a buffet, steakhouse, noodle bar, and of course a Hard Rock Cafe. It's a partnership between the Enterprise Rancheria Indian tribe and the Seminole Tribe of Florida, which owns Hard Rock International and operates two of the brand’s 11 existing resort-casinos.
Entry for most of the football contests with season prizes is closed, but you can still play weeklies today and for the rest of the season. The best is Pick the Pros at any Coast casino. There are also weekly kiosk contests around town. You have until kick-off today to get down. Check our Football Contest listings for all the options.
Serena Williams is a -315 favorite over Bianca Andreescu in today's U.S. Open tennis women's final. Andreescu is in her first major final, while Williams is going for a 24th major singles win, which will tie her with Margaret Court for most all time. Williams is 37 and Andreescu is 19, making it the largest age gap in a women’s Grand Slam final in the Open era, which began in 1968.
Khabib Nurmagomedov is a -475 favorite over Dustin Poirier in today’s UFC main event. In the other featured match, Edson Barboza is -125 over Paul Felder.
The just-opened Mama Rabbit Bar at Park MGM, which boasts the country’s most extensive collection of tequila and mezcal, is the latest to appear on the growing list of Las Vegas restaurants that charge a concession and franchise fee (CNF). At Mama Rabbit, the fee is "only" 2%, less than half that of other Strip restaurants, such as Hexx and Beer Park at Paris. According to casino.org, the Sahara is now charging an even heftier CNF: "A receipt from The Foundry shared to Twitter shows a $14 cocktail ballooning to $16.80 after a mandatory 15% gratuity and 5% service charge." We liked a tweet about possible future fees: "a toilet-flush fee, an air-conditioning fee, a housekeeping fee, a towel fee ..." You can read more about CNFs in our most recent Question of the Day (and numerous comments) on the subject.
RuPaul, the most famous drag queen in the U.S., will star in a residency at the Flamingo that will launch in January. The model, singer/songwriter, and TV personality announced the Vegas show on his reality competition series "RuPaul's Drag Race," which has received three Primetime Emmy Awards. RuPaul's Drag Race Live! residency will, according to the press release, "be the most sickening eleganza extravaganza in Las Vegas herstory." A rotating cast of seven queens per show will appear five times a week (dark Monday and Wednesday) and the public can buy tickets, which start at $49, on Friday at 10 a.m. Pacific Time.
The Palms pool and dayclub area is closing for six weeks on Sept. 15 while a transparent dome is installed 70 feet above the KAOS day/nightclub and one of the resort's pools and cabanas. The climate-controlled under-the-dome area will reopen on Halloween for an inaugural "Demon Dome" pool party featuring entertainer Cardi B. The dome will remain in place through March; if the winter dayclub scene is successful, it will be reinstalled in the fall.
Metarama, a new culture festival billed as "the first of its kind to truly mash up music, video games, and esports" and scheduled to take place Oct. 19-20 at the 40-acre Las Vegas Festival Grounds (across from SLS), has been canceled. The festival was supposed to be headlined by Snoop Dogg, Marshmello, and Shaquille O'Neal. No reason was given for calling it off. Full refunds are available at support.frontgatetickets.com or by calling 888-512-7469.
Impressionist Gordie Brown, who opened at Hooters' Night Owl Showroom in early 2018 after spending many years at the Golden Nugget, will perform his last show on September 29. Brown reportedly is in talks to open at a new venue, but so far it's speculative.
MGM Resorts and Buffalo Wild Wings have entered into a multi-year partnership that involves various degrees of sports betting. The joint venture, called Roar Digital, will be rolled out in phases, the first of which is a fantasy-sports-like free-to-play football game using the BetMGM app in which participants choose weekly fantasy players, make prop bets, and pick NFL teams to win. Cash bets won't be accepted (at least at first) and fans can play anywhere, but to be eligible for the non-cash prizes, they’ll have to visit select locations of the self-proclaimed largest sports bar chain in the U.S. between Thursday and Sunday. The restaurants will also display custom sports book content on TV screens featuring live odds. The program will be tested first in New Jersey; if successful, it will expand to more states with legal sports betting. The BetMGM app is the rebranded PlayMGM, its gaming app introduced in 2017. In addition to the existing table and poker games, BetMGM, which launches today in New Jersey, allows sports bettors to place pre-match and in-play bets on pro and college football, MLB, MLS, NBA, and NHL games, among other sporting events.
The Chicago Bears are -3 favorites in tonight's Thursday Night Football game that opens the 2019 NFL season. The total is 46.5.
If you're playing Station Casinos' new Pro Football Pick & Pay contest, either with the intention of playing for the season prizes or just this weekend's result, it's important to get your picks in before tonight's Bears/Packers game, since Thursday games are included in the Station results. This is a free contest, so you won't be out any money if you don't include today's game, but your chances of winning a prize will be substantially reduced.
Due to demand, Aerosmith will play an additional 15 shows of their "Deuces Are Wild" mini-residency at the Park Theater at Park MGM. The new dates are: January 29 and 31; February 3, 5, 8, 10, 13, and 15; May 20, 23, 25, 28, and 30; and June 2 and 4. Tickets start at $75 and go on sale to the public on Friday the 13th at 10 a.m. Vegas time.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board held an auction for a sixth license for a mini-casino (up to 750 slot machines and 40 table games) and received exactly zero bids. Five of the 10 licenses approved in 2017 have been sold, but this is the second time in six months that an auction for the sixth license was completely ignored. Bidders were limited to owners of Pennsylvania's existing major casinos, the minimum bid was $7.5 million, and exclusion zones shut off all the population centers; in addition, casino competition in the Northeast is fierce and Pennsylvania has one of the highest casino tax rates in the U.S. (16% combined state and local taxes for table games and 54% for slot machines). None of the eligible casino owners even contacted the Gaming Control Board about the auction.
The chef and owner of the wildly popular Other Mama sushi, seafood, and Asian restaurant in the southwest valley opened his third Las Vegas restaurant last night. La Monja ("The Nun"), a Mexican restaurant specializing in seafood, joins Krohmer's second eatery, Hatsumi, at Ferguson's Downtown, the former motel space. Details are a bit sparse so far, but a glance at La Monja's Facebook page shows colorful murals, an outdoor open-fire cooking area, house-ground chalqueño azul corn for the tamales and tortillas, entrees such as tomato aguachile with lemon cucumber, purslane, mushroom, and pineapple aquachile and pescado a la talla, grilled bass with salsa verde and chayote, and a happy hour every weekday 3-6 p.m. We'll definitely be checking this one out soon.
The Clark County Clerk, who doubles as the Commissioner of Civil Marriages, reports that the number of issued marriage licenses has been falling steadily over the past few years: from roughly 81,000 in 2016 to 78,000 in 2017 and 74,000 in 2018, a 9% drop. This reflects a national trend in which the Millennial generation is getting married later, if at all. The median marriage age for women is currently 27.8 and for men 29.8, compared to 20 for women and 23 for men in the 1950s. Nationwide, 32.9% of all Millennials are currently married, compared to 55% of the U.S. marriage-age population.
Clark County will collect one-eighth-of-a-cent more in sales taxes starting in January. The tax, projected to raise around $50 million in 2020, is meant to be earmarked for social services, such as education, affordable housing, workforce training, and truancy reduction. Though the tax sunsets in 2021, the County Commission can extend it. The 0.0.8% tax will impose an extra $1 for every $800 spent on purchases in the county; the new tax will be 8.375%. In other sales-tax news, the county commissioners also canceled the 2025 expiration date of a quarter-cent sales tax increase passed in 1998 that has raised $1.4 billion for water and wastewater projects.
Our new blackjack book, 21st-Century Card Counter -- The Pros' Approach To Beating Today's Blackjack, is now available. The paperback, normally $27.95, is selling for $16.95 and the hardback, normally $34.95, is going for $26.91. These special introductory offers expire soon, so get the 310-page book at the discounted prices while you can.
According to the Las Vegas Sun, MGM Resorts has "long-term plans to turn the site of the Oct. 1 mass shooting into a community and athletic center. In a statement, MGM said, "As the second anniversary nears, we remain committed to being part of the community effort to continue healing and moving forward.” The Sun reports, "MGM said it hopes to eventually host community gatherings, high-school basketball tournaments, and youth soccer games at the site, which could also become a practice facility for the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces" (MGM owns the Aces). MGM also stated that it will support any plans for a public memorial on the site of the festival, which until the community center is built, will be used as a parking lot for Allegiant Stadium.
Fox Corp introduced the Fox Bet sports-betting platform yesterday in New Jersey. It's the first incursion of a major media company into actual sports gambling, rather than just coverage of it. Fox Bet is taking over BetStars in New Jersey and existing BetStars/PokerStars accounts will work at the rebranded site. Fox Bet will target casual betters and smaller wagers and be a way for Fox Sports to engage fans. This is a long-range project that began last May when Fox Corp. paid $236 million for a 5% stake in the Stars Group (TSG), with an option to acquire up to 50% of TSG within 10 years. The Fox Bet brand will show up in any state where TSG gains market access; reportedly, FoxBet.com will launch in Pennsylvania in the next week or so.
Paris is celebrating its 20th anniversary this week; it opened on September 1, 1999. In conjunction with the anniversary, over the lst few months, the Voie Spa & Salon opened, the renovation of all 2,900 guest rooms was completed, and the Eiffel Tower was spruced up with a new light show. More than 500 Paris employees have worked there since opening day. Another anniversary celebrated on Sunday night was O's 10,000th performance. Las Vegas Review-Journal entertainment columnist Jon Katsimoletes reports that 17 million people have seen the show since it opened on October 17, 1998 (only two days after the opening of Bellagio itself); it was the first show on the Strip to charge more than $100 per ticket. Starting in January, according to Kats, the show will be performed seven nights a week, with two shows on select dates.
According to Climate Central, an independent organization of leading scientists and journalists researching and reporting the facts about changing climate and its impact on the public, Las Vegas' average temperature has risen 5.76 degrees since 1970 (the year of the first Earth Day), which is the largest increase in the country. It's followed by El Paso, Tucson, Phoenix, and Burlington, VT. In all, the average temp in 10 U.S. cities has increased by more than 4 degrees in the past 49 years. Only six of the 242 cities Climate Central studied either saw no change or got cooler.
Today is the sign-up deadline to be eligible for the $750K bonus for winning both the Pro and College Last Man Standing contests at Station Casinos. It’s a long shot, but if you’re playing, you want to be live for this potential payday. An article in today’s LV Review Journal reports that there are 1,194 entries so far in the new Circa Million contest and 2,665 in the Westgate SuperContest. Get complete details on all the pay and free Las Vegas contests on our Football Contest page.
Labor Day isn’t usually a big holiday for casino promotions, but several are running today. Silverton is awarding 10X points on slots and 2X on video poker, along with 2-for-1 buffets all day. Boyd casinos have 11X points on slots and video poker. Station and Fiesta casinos have 3.3X points on slots and 2X on video poker. South Point is giving away $100 in slot free-play to 320 players selected randomly throughout the day. El Cortez is handing out free White Castle burgers to players at slots and table games from noon to 6 p.m.
Winning the second-to-last game in the regular season 8-1 against the Tacoma Rainiers, the Las Vegas Aviators Triple-A minor-league team clinched a spot in the Pacific Coast League playoffs. The Aviators, at 82-57, lead the Pacific Southern Division; they'll play their first game in the best-of-five first round against the Sacramento River Cats on Wednesday night after closing the regular season tonight against Tacoma (61-77). Last night's home game was the the 46th sellout and the 23rd crowd of 10,000-plus at Las Vegas Ballpark.
An "express-lunch" menu has been introduced at Julian Serrano's Tapas restaurant at Aria. Guaranteed to be served within 29 minutes, the lunch consists of one selection each from three "sections": 1) mushroom soup, mixed salad, chicken croquetas; 2) black-rice risotto, brava potatoes, tostada Manchega; 3) sauteed shrimp, Cuban sandwich, prime rib meatballs. The cost is $29; for $4 extra, you get a choice of three desserts (flan, churros, or sweet toast). Tapas opens for lunch at 11:30 daily.
After several abnormally hot days with the thermometer topping out at 110 yesterday, temperatures will return to normal and stay there for the rest of the month, according to the National Weather Service. August set a record for the number of days that the high temperature was 105 or more at 24, beating 1969's 23. Temperatures are typically in the 90s from Sept. 1 through the 25th, then drop into the 80s for the last week. The record high for September is 113 (9/1, 1950) and the low is 43 (9/27, 1948). September is also traditionally a dry month; a quarter of an inch of rain is typical.
The Downtown Rocks free concert series presents "I Love the '90s" tonight, with performing acts Vanilla Ice, Montell Jordan, All-4-One, Tone Loc, and Coolio. The concert starts at 7 p.m. on the 3rd Street stage.
Not too long after the transformation of the Monte Carlo to the Park MGM, the new Moneyline sports book closed; it was open for a mere four months. Closed for six weeks, it was completely remodeled to make it more of a book than a bar, with additional betting windows and boards. The video poker bar is still the centerpiece; there are also a four-lane bowling alley, video games, and the Side Betty Grill. But sports bettors will feel more at home than they did in the old joint.
It's September and Las Vegas sports books are rolling out their football contests en masse. Some are free, some have big prize pools, some you can play without being here every week. Where are they and how do you get in on the action? We provide all the details in this month's Las Vegas Advisor. The new issue also tells you about applying advantage-play techniques to credit-card opportunities, a revolt against 6-5 blackjack, and our latest blackjack book with endorsements from six Blackjack Hall of Famers, plus where to find a good steak & lobster that just got better, a 2-for-1 pizza place with good video poker, two high-end happy hours, an under-the-radar entertainment freebie, dollar beers during football games, even a restaurant with 100 brands of cereal and 10 different kinds of milk. A subscription to the Advisor is all of $3 a month and comes with so many coupons, it'll make your head spin. If you're not a member, get with it!
Chickie’s & Pete’s, one of Philadelphia's original sports bars (opened in 1977) and now with a dozen restaurants around Philly, a handful of seasonal eateries on the Jersey Shore, and others in Florida, Minnesota, and Missouri, will open at the Sahara in the space where Umami Burger just closed. Named the U.S.' number-one sports bar in 2011 by ESPN, Chickie’s & Pete’s is known for its crab, crab french fries, mussels, and lobster pizza. The restaurant is scheduled to open in time for the 2020 football season; Beer & Bets will occupy the space for now.